On this episode, Emily Joan Elliott and Al Hargrave Jackson, who both report on East Lansing Public Schools recap the last two years of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as well as Covid-19 mitigation efforts in the district. The two issues have often overlapped, as the duo discuss, and Al points to what is expected next on both topics. Al also provides information on a new contract for teachers and a visit to East Lansing by Mark Wood, an original member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Apr 29, 2022•28 min•Ep. 64
Andrew is joined by ELi's Heather Brothers on this episode of the Insider, where the duo discuss the use of force reports that the ELPD has been giving the Independent Police Oversight Commission and dig into what we can learn from them, what the Commission might make of them, and the long term goals of this level of police accountability. Listen in!
Apr 22, 2022•29 min•Ep. 63
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew and Emily recap a discussion from the Tuesday, April 12, City Council discussion-only meeting where the five members of Council discussed potentially putting a moratorium on issuing new Special Use Permits for off-campus group housing for MSU students — namely, Greek houses. To help aid the discussion, two representatives from MSU — Su Webster and Dr. Erin Carter — were also in attendance and shared new information about the sophomores-on rule. Listen in!
Apr 15, 2022•28 min•Ep. 62
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew sits down with Emily Joan Elliott to talk about the imminent return of the Albert EL Fresco, an open-air dining, seating and recreation area in downtown East Lansing. With the EL Fresco slated to reopen on May 10, the duo cover what it will look like in year two, some of the challenges faced by the City in pulling it off, and touch on how popular it might really be. Take a listen!
Apr 09, 2022•30 min•Ep. 61
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is in studio with ELi's founder, Alice Dreger, to talk about a number of various redevelopment projects — or potential projects — going on in East Lansing. Plus, the duo talks about a document from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) that highlights good strategies for growing downtowns. Give it a listen!
Apr 01, 2022•30 min•Ep. 60
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's Emily Joan Elliott and Al Jackson to go back over the months-long process of hiring the two new City Attorneys. From moving on from Foster Swift to deciding to split the role in municipal advisor and prosecutor, right up to contract issues, we cover it all in this episode. Check it out!
Mar 25, 2022•29 min•Ep. 59
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's Emily Joan Elliott, who interviews him about the ongoing discussions in the City about what might be done with the Northern Tier. The two also assess the potential that a committee to study the planning, zoning and future land uses will be formed. Give it a listen!
Mar 18, 2022•29 min•Ep. 58
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by Dan Bollman, an architect and current chair of the East Lansing Planning Commission. Dan and Andrew discuss the state of housing in East Lansing and delve into some of the various ways the City could alter zoning or other laws to, potentially, make housing more affordable and accessible in East Lansing. Listen in!
Mar 11, 2022•31 min•Ep. 56
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's founder, Alice Dreger, to talk about the latest on town-gown relations in East Lansing. The duo discuss the sophomores-on-campus housing rule that MSU is planning to enforce beginning in the fall, the growing glut of student-oriented housing, and what the future might hold in light of these, and other, developments. Give it a listen!
Mar 04, 2022•28 min•Ep. 57
On this episode of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi's acting executive director, Emily Joan Elliott, to discuss the current state of Covid-19 as the omicron variant is apparently receding and things around East Lansing potentially get back to "normal." You'll also fear briefly from Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail in this episode, talking about the same thing during her regular media briefing. And lastly, it closes out with a news roundup. Give it a listen!
Feb 25, 2022•27 min•Ep. 55
After pausing most City meetings in January and early February due to the surge of the Omicron Covid variant, the City of East Lansing's board and commissions got back to work this week and dealt with a bevy of issues. On this week's edition of the Insider, Andrew is joined by ELi reporters Heather Brothers and Al Hargrave to discuss their coverage of the Independent Police Oversight Commission and School Board, respectively. Listen in to get caught up on some of what the City is up to!
Feb 18, 2022•28 min•Ep. 54
The convergence of a young student population and downtown bars could be a recipe for problems. On this episode of the Insider, Andrew talks to Scott Rolen (Lou & Harry's) and Mike Krueger (Crunchys) about the Responsible Hospitality Council, essentially a consortium of downtown liquor license holders working together to promote what their name says: responsible hospitality. So how do these bar and restaurant owners work together — and with the City — to promote a safe, controlled environmen...
Feb 11, 2022•28 min•Ep. 53
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew is joined by Dr. Alexa Warwick from Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. While Dr. Warwick is not an expert in deer biology, she has worked with the City of East Lansing on gauging community tolerances for deer and different management practices. East Lansing's 2022 deer cull ended recently, with 79 deer being removed from the City — and the cull was met wit...
Feb 04, 2022•29 min•Ep. 52
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew is joined by ELi reporter Al Hargrave to discuss the ongoing search for a new City Attorney in East Lansing. From splitting up the roles of municipal advisor and prosecutor to marathon interview sessions and the winnowing down of choices, Andrew and Al dive in. Give it a listen!
Jan 28, 2022•26 min•Ep. 51
When one thinks local business, 7-Eleven doesn't readily come to mind. This week, Andrew hopes to change that thinking with an interview with Ali Haider, who has owned and operated the downtown 7-Eleven for more than five years. Haider, who is from the area and now resides near Grand Rapids, talks about the challenges of Covid and students being gone, the growth of downtown EL and his dislike of how the Albert EL Fresco was executed. Listen in!
Jan 21, 2022•28 min•Ep. 50
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew interviews ELHS teacher Mark Pontoni, along with two upperclassmen: junior Elke Schrenk and senior Marie Adele Grosso. The three each join Andrew to share their experiences dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in the halls of East Lansing High School, from the fatigue of entering Year 3 to the challenges of masking in the building, it's discussed in this episode. Take a listen!
Jan 14, 2022•26 min•Ep. 49
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew and Chuck are again joined by ELi's Emily Joan Elliott — this time to delve into the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the Omicron variant causing another wave and renewed concerns, the trio dive into issues facing Michigan State University, East Lansing Public Schools, and the City at-large. Give it a listen!
Jan 07, 2022•28 min•Ep. 48
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew and Chuck are joined by ELi's Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott. Together, the trio talks about some of the bigger, noteworthy topics from 2021, from the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic to the return of in-person learning at MSU and East Lansing Public Schools, to the newly-formed East Lansing City Council, plus plenty more. Give it a listen!
Dec 24, 2021•28 min•Ep. 46
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew talks to a number of folks about the Saturday accident involving a Canadian National train running through some downed power lines, leading to widespread outages of service. Andrew talks to Keith Ivkovich, who witnessed the accident firsthand, plus Mike Wilson from Comcast about how outages get repaired. Lastly, of course, Andrew and Chuck dive into what went down. Give it a listen!
Dec 17, 2021•28 min•Ep. 45
Andrew and Chuck are joined by Al Hargrave, a newer ELi reporter, to discuss some of her recent reporting on East Lansing's City Attorney, the American Rescue Plan Act, plus East Lansing High School students being recognized for their smarts. The trio also dive into a couple other stories — about cameras downtown and a proposed medical marijuana dispensary. Listen in!
Dec 10, 2021•26 min•Ep. 44
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew and Chuck are joined by ELi Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger to highlight and discuss the various transparency roadblocks they've encountered in East Lansing, plus what changes could fix it. Give it a listen!
Dec 03, 2021•28 min•Ep. 43
After multiple presentations to the public from the City about water infrastructure, Chuck Grigsby joins ELi's Andrew Graham to talk about the ongoing sanitary and storm sewer debate in the City of East Lansing. They also delve into what the future might hold in terms of solving the flooding problems the City faces. Take a listen!
Nov 26, 2021•28 min•Ep. 42
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, Andrew Graham is joined by Chuck Grigsby, who will be a more regular guest/co-host on the show moving forward. Chuck serves on the East Lansing Human Rights Commission, and chaired the study committee that crafted the recommendation for East Lansing's current Police Oversight Commission. In this episode, Andrew and Chuck delve into the issues that the group might face in getting information from the p...
Nov 19, 2021•28 min•Ep. 41
On this edition of the East Lansing Insider, brought to you by East Lansing Info and Impact 89FM, policing, generally, is the topic and ELi reporters Andrew Graham, Heather Brothers and Jack Timothy Harrison dive in. First, Andrew interviews Heather about her coverage of the first meeting of the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission. Then, Jack talks about his reporting on the MSU student perspective of the Oct. 30 couch burnings and such. Listen in!
Nov 12, 2021•28 min•Ep. 40
On this episode of the East Lansing Insider, brought to you by East Lansing Info and Impact 89FM, ELi's Andrew Graham is joined by attorney Brian Wassom, who successfully defended ELi in a recent defamation case. The duo discuss why the claims against ELi fell short of being capable of defamation and touch on how an anti-SLAPP law could've protected ELi from such a suit. At the end, Graham runs through some recent local news.
Nov 05, 2021•28 min•Ep. 39
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi reporter Andrew Graham is joined by ELi Founder and Executive Director Alice Dreger to talk about the 2021 race for three East Lansing City Council seats, the issues the new council will face, and how the civic landscape has changed in the city. The duo also talks about some recent City Council races and how this year has been a more lowkey competition for the available seats.
Nov 01, 2021•28 min•Ep. 38
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott sits down with Reporter Heather Brothers to discuss what happened at City Council on Oct. 19, including a discussion on a police labor contract. The two then provide a news roundup, introducing the new Ingham County Commissioner, reviewing some Ask ELi questions, and discussing how the City might use some of its federal Covid relief money.
Oct 22, 2021•27 min•Ep. 36
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Managing Editor talks with East Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Dori Leyko. Leyko shares the most rewarding and challenging aspects of leading the district during the pandemic. She also reflects on what the district has done in terms of equity and social justice, including hiring Director of Equity and Social Justice Klaudia Burton, and what she hopes to see achieved this year. You can see...
Oct 15, 2021•29 min•Ep. 35
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott talks with City Desk Reporter Andrew Graham about his recent reports on flooding following heavy rains in East Lansing, particularly after heavy rains on Aug. 12. The two discuss the issues that residents on Timberlane Drive face in seeking solutions to prevent further flooding some residents are in East Lansing and others in Meridian Township. Andrew also prov...
Oct 08, 2021•28 min•Ep. 34
On this episode of East Lansing Insider, brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM, ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger chats with Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott about the history of the Evergreen Properties, which the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) purchased in 2009. Over the years, the DDA had hoped to sell the properties to several developers, but nothing so far has panned out as planned. Dreger explains the long history up to the present, including a pos...
Oct 01, 2021•29 min•Ep. 33
